WRENTHAM, MA : Walpole man arrested after accident on Monday, December, 18th 2017

A Walpole man allegedly driving under the influence caused quite a mess last week when he crashed into a stone wall and fire hydrant that caused flooding and structural damage on Dedham Street, also known as Route 1A, in Wrentham.

According to police, on Tuesday Dec. 12 at 11:56 p.m, Joseph White, 54 of 3 Jean Road, Walpole hit a stone wall and fire hydrant when driving his black 2002 Ford econoline van on Dedham Street near Lorraine Metcalf Drive.

Witnesses said after White hit the hydrant, it looked like a geyser--with water gushing up into the air as high as nearby house rooftops.

Witnesses also told police that White fled the scene on foot. Police and K9 officers searched a nearby wooded area for two hours before locating and placing him under arrest.

White was charged with OUI, second offense, leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage and marked lanes violation.

Police said it took crews hours to get the situation under control. Along with police, MassDOT, the Wrentham Department of Public Works and the gas company all responded to the scene.

One family was temporarily evacuated from their home until the gas company could determine there were no gas leaks, said Wrentham Deputy Police Chief William McGrath.

A wash out effect also created a sink hole, McGrath said. Workers had to shut the water off to repair the water main and hydrant connections.

“It was quite a project,” McGrath said. “It was a cold night and that made it tough to work because of the water and icing.”

As crews cleared the road and addressed the flooding, police advised motorists to seek alternate routes and detours were put in place. McGrath said the incident also interrupted school bus routes Wednesday morning. The northbound lane on Route 1A was re-opened around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday but the southbound lane remained closed for most of the day.

Once the water main and hydrants were repaired, the sink hole was also filled in. The road is now safe to drive on, McGrath said.

“All is passable and everything is back in order,” he said this past Monday.

The town and MassDOT will attempt to recover costs incurred during the incident through White’s insurance, McGrath said.

Source :
Walpole man arrested after accident